Farm-gate.



E. F. & E. J. STODDARD.

FARM GATE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 7, 1912.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

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Fain 0'7 ISZOQQZQIZZ COLUMBIA F E. F. & E. J. STOD'DARD.

FARM GATE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY '7, 1912. 1,058,487. Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

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EDWARD F. STODDARD AND EDWIN J. STODDARD, OF DECORAH, IOWA.

FARM-GATE.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Application filed May 7, 1912. Serial No. 695,674.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, EDWARD F. STOD- DARD and EDWIN J. STonDARD, citizens of the United States, residing at Decorah, in the county of lVinneshiek and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvemcnts'in' Farm-Grates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to farm gates, the object of the invention being to provide a gate of the class described which, when set, will slide to an open or shut position by the aid of gravity alone, and at the same time maintain the horizontality of the gate, either in an opened or closed position. Furthermorc, the operating mechanism for the gate is adapted to be cont-rolled at a suitable distance therefrom, to enable the same to be accomplished, without the necessity of the driver or rider dismounting.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevatiop of the improved gate shown closed. Fig. 2 a similar view, showing the gate opened. Fig. 3 is an elevation taken at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail section on an enlarged scale, showing the means for simultaneously elevating and depressing the track rails. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken at right angles to Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the upper end of one of the end posts, showing the support for one of the track rails.

In the construction of the gate contemplated in this invention, we employ essentially a center post 1, and end posts 2 and 3 arranged at opposite sides of the center post and equi-distant or substantially so therefrom. The center post is located at one side of the roadway, while one of the end posts 2 is located at the opposite side of the roadway.

The supporting means for the gate consists of a pair of overhead track rails 4 and 5. the outer ends of which are support ed and adapted to move longitudinally upon rollers 6 journaled in the upper ends of the end posts 2 and 3, while the inner ends of said track rails 4t and 5 are pivotally connected to opposite ends of a cross head 7 mounted fast on a short shaft 8 journaled in hearings on the center post 1, 9 designating the pivots which connect the track rails 4 and 5 to the cross head.

On the same shaft 8 with the cross head 7 is a grooved pulley 10 adapted to receive a pair of operating ropes 11 which extend downwardly from the pulley 10 under guide pulleys 12 secured to the center post, and thence upward over other guide pulleys 13 mounted'on laterally extending horizontal. arms 14 connected with the center post. The pulleys 13 are located at such a distance from the center post and the plane of the gate that they may be conveniently grasped by the driver or rider, without the necessity of dismounting. It will be observed that when one of the ropes is pulled, the shaft 8 will be turned in one direction, and when the other rope'is pulled, said shaft will be turned in the opposite direction. The effect of this is to alternately raise and lower the inner ends of the track rails 4 and 5, thereby reversing the inclination of the said track rails, for a purpose which will appear.

The gate which is hung entirely upon the track rails 4t and 5 comprises the end uprights 15 and 16 provided at their upper ends wit-h rollers 17 which restand travel upon the rails 41; and 5. In connection with the uprights 15 and 16, we employ any desired number of parallel rails or bars 18,

each of which is connected at its opposite ends to the uprights 16 and 1.7 by a single bolt 19, which thereby forms a pivotal con-.

nect-ion between the gate bars 18, and the end uprights, thus giving a parallel motion between the gate bars and uprights, so that the latter are always maintained in a vertical position by reason of their suspension from their upper ends on the track rails, hereinabove described.

From the foregoing description, it will now be understood that by operating the ropes at opposite sides of the gate, the inner ends of the track rails may be correspondingly and simultaneously raised and lowered, so that both track rails 4 and 5 may be inclined toward the roadway or away from the roadway. As soon as this adjustment of the track rails is eifected, the gate will slide by gravity in one direction or the other in accordance with the angle to which the track rails are set. Furthermore,the gate will remain in a perfectly horizontal position, whether opened or closed.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a farm gate structure, the combination of a center post, two end posts equidistant therefrom, a cross head ournaled on the center post, overhead track rails having their inner ends connected to opposite ends of the cross head and theirouter ends slidably supported on the end posts, a gate having end uprights provided with rollers to travel on said rails, and operating means for turning said cross head.

2. In a farm gate structure, the combination of a center post, two end posts equidistant therefrom, a cross head journaled on the center post, overhead track rails having their inner ends connected to opposite ends of the cross head andtheir outer ends slidably supported on the end posts, a gate hav ing end uprights provided with rollers to travel on said rails, and operating means for turning said cross head, embodying ropes connected with said cross head.

3. In a farm gate structure, the con'ibination of a center post, two end posts equidistant therefrom, a cross head journaled on the center post, overhead track rails having their inner ends connected to opposite ends of the cross head and their outer ends slidably supported on the end posts, a gate having end uprights provided with rollers to travel on said rails, and operating means for turning said cross head, embodying a pulley fast on the shaft of the cross head and ropes connected to said pulley.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ED-IVARD F. STODDARI). EDWIN J. STODDARD. W'itnesses G120. H. BRIDGES, B. S. MoKAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

